Harbaugh defends rookie Jenkins

July 29, 2012|Reuters

The Sports Xchange

Harbaugh defends rookie Jenkins

San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh has gained a reputation for being very supportive of his players publicly, and he demonstrated that again Sunday in his defense of rookie wide receiver A.J. Jenkins.

Media reports suggest Jenkins, a first-round pick, has struggled since being drafted, but Harbaugh made an unscheduled appearance to address the media on the subject.

"I just want to update you on the status of A.J. Jenkins, that topic," Harbaugh told reporters Sunday. "A.J. Jenkins was an outstanding football player when he got here. His progress has been very, very good and exceeded expectations. For those scribes, pundits, so-called experts, who have gone as far to say that he is going to be a bust, should just stop.

"I recommend that because they are making themselves look more clueless than they already did. To go on record, A.J.'s going to be an outstanding football player. So far in camp, what he's done in the offseason has led us to believe nothing but that he will be an outstanding football player in the National Football League."

Asked why he decided to come to Jenkins' defense without prompting, Harbaugh said, "I am just stating the facts as I see them and believe them to be."